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Encouraging single occupant vehicles

Mon., May 6, 2013

Re: Toll lanes ‘training pants for road users,' May 3

Toll lanes ‘training pants for road users,' May 3

Kathleen Wynne’s Liberals have floated a plan in the budget for two-tiered pay-as-you-go 400-series highways that will allow single occupant vehicles to use HOV (high occupancy vehicle) lanes. Some Ontarians welcome the plan that will enable solo drivers to jump the queue and supposedly get to their destination faster if they are willing to pay again for what they’ve already paid for through their taxes. “The one thing (in the budget) that’s supposed to be about transit isn’t really about transit. It discourages people from taking transit and it creates Lexus lanes in the province,” said NDP Leader Andrea Horwath.

HOV lanes were originally introduced to promote carpooling, thereby reducing carbon emissions and greenhouse gases while at the same time helping to ease highway congestion.

It’s hypocritical for the Liberals, who cloak their party in greenwash and characterize themselves as environmentally conscientious, to now encourage more single occupant vehicle use on our highways — but only if you’re willing to pay them a premium for the privilege.

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How exactly will this pay-as-you go system work you ask? Transponder technology is being rumoured. Highways will have to be retrofitted, equipment purchased, consultants hired, studies done, and whole new government departments will have to be created, staffed and funded.

Here’s a low-tech low-cost solution the government should consider. Sell drivers a sticker they can slap on the back of their vehicle for, say, $100 a month. It could say something like “I’m a lone driver and entitled to contribute to global warming because I paid the Ontario government for the privilege.”

The ultimate irony will be the day that traffic in all lanes comes to a standstill because everyone has one of these stickers on their vehicle.

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